Congressman Johnson Patent Bill to Help Small Inventors Passes Out Of Judiciary

Ranking Member of Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property & the Internet, Johnson Applauds Bipartisan Win For Individual Inventors and Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee that oversees the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, today announced that his bipartisan bill, H.R. 7803 was marked up and passed out of Judiciary Committee. This legislation would incentivize small businesses and individuals to apply for fee reductions by allowing for good faith exceptions to penalties for fraudulent applications.  

“This is a win for the little guy,” said Johnson. “Navigating the often complicated and burdensome patent process can often be daunting for individual inventors or businesses, who are less likely to apply for fee reductions because of the high penalties for mistaken applications. H.R. 7803, will give the USPTO director the ability to waive the fines in cases of a good faith mistake and thereby protect inventors who don’t have a lot of resources.”

The bill, which is sponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Issa (R-CA), now goes to the House for a vote.

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